Johnboy3434 said:
This is the non-SW fan in me talking here, so don't get too upset: If the fans weren't so insane, there wouldn't have been a rift to begin with. Numerous other films have had major changes made to them years after the fact without their fanbases going ballistic. Most of the people who don't like it simply say "Well, that was unnecessary" and leave it at that. They'd even buy the new versions and deal with the additions (i.e. not start some [honestly] insignificant boycott).

There is a rift in SW-fandom, because Lucas takes shot at the fans all the time. If you can name one director who talks against his fanbase, then your argument could be correct.

Remember these quotes by Lucas:

"I am sorry you fell in love with a half completed movie." -George Lucas talking about the Orignal Star Wars and the changes he made in 1997.

"The Original Versions don't exist anymore, the Special Editions are the ones that I only recognize." George Lucas talking in 2003 after being asked about the Original Versions of the OT.

"We are releasing the Original Versions on DVD now with nothing done to them, we'll see if the fans really want them. It will all come out in the end." - George Lucas asked by MTV.com about why he is releasing the OOT now on DVD.

George Lucas has alienated us simply because he refused to put out the OOT movies in any quality that is acceptable to DVD standards, and then saying they don't exist for many years too, which was more of an insult because those are the versions that bought him his Skywalker Ranch. Many people bitched and complained on the internet about Bladerunner and Superman II: Donnor Cut, and ET (original version) and all of them are out on DVD in Great Quality, yet we have grainy, shitty versions. The defense rests your honor:)